A tour of iOS 5 on the iPhone (screenshots)

As Apple issues its iOS 5 update for the iPhone, the iPad, and the iPod Touch, CNET goes deep to see how it looks and how it performs.

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Notifications bar

Apple's iOS 5 isn't the biggest update we've seen, but it offers enough to get us interested. A few of the changes, like the improved notifications system and the photo-editing features, are minor but long overdue, while others, like PC Free and iMessage, will change how you use your iPhone. Here's what we've managed to try out so far.

One of iOS 5's most welcome features is the new notifications system. Instead of multiple, and sometimes irritating, pop-up notifications, you now have one menu that shows a complete list of your missed calls and messages, app updates, a stock ticker, and the current weather. Swiping down from the top of the screen (much as in Android) will get you there.

Photo editing

After taking a photo, you can crop and rotate your image and access color correction and red-eye reduction controls. Considering that photo-editing features have long existed on basic phones, these options were sorely needed.

New in Maps

iMessage

The new iMessage feature is integrated into the standard messaging app. The iPhone will know when you're talking to another iOS device and activate the options to send locations and contacts, try group messaging, see when someone is typing to you, and get delivery and read-message receipts. Remember that iMessage will not count against your carrier's text message allotment.

Twitter integration

The tighter Twitter integration means that you now can tweet directly from YouTube, Safari (as seen here), the Photo Gallery App, and Maps. It saves a few steps since you no longer have to end your task, switch to a Twitter app, and then send your tweet. You'll be able to add a location and sync Twitter with your contacts list.

More fun with links

In addition to tweeting a Web site's URL, you also can mail an entire article (presently you can send just a link) and add it to a Reading List that can be synced across multiple Safari devices. The Print, Add Bookmark, and Add to Home Screen options are unchanged.

PC Free

The PC Free feature enables wireless device activations and app and software updates. The updates will serve only the changes, so they'll be shorter. And with the new iCloud service, you'll also be able to wirelessly sync, back up, and restore your device with iTunes. As you might have guessed, the idea is for you to never have to plug your device into a computer again. Or, if you prefer, you won't have to own a computer at all.

Newsstand

The Newsstand app's design is similar to iBooks'. You can add subscriptions from the App Store, and new issues will be delivered automatically. We haven't had a chance to examine it yet, but we'll check it out over the next few days.

Game Center

The Game Center gets new features like profile photos, achievement point comparison, friends-of-friends and game recommendations, and support for turn-based games. What's more, you can buy games directly from the app.